Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-04-28

CHAPTER XVII.
DEVOTED TO BROWNIES FORTUNE.
Two days afterward, Rip came once more
in search of Shirley. He wore very long
face
GMiSsiz," said he, "she's went and done it."
"What do you meanp
Brownies run away with Wabbnobbs."
"Oh, no. Rip, she only went down to Lin
wood an hour ago."
"She took the train into Chesterton. He'll
meet her there, and they're going to be mar
ried this day. heard 'em planning it yes
terday."
Shirley turned pale at that
"Is this true" she asked.
"It's the Gods truth tell you. I'd have
come to you last night, but I didn't think
she'd have the sand to do it. thought she'd
weaken at the last minute"
Shirley was stunned. For once in her life
she was at q loss.
"Oh, what shall do?" she exclaimed.
"Take the next train and go after her.
Here's where you'll find her,"-holding
card. u know my gentlemans places. Catch
her before they are married. Show him this
letter from his wife. I stole it from him.
Come, shin out lively, now!"
There was no time to lose. Rips advice
was plainly sound. She was off like the wind
"Say, missiz, you won't give me awayg"
"Surely not; I'll do anything for you. If 1
can only save BrownieW
Because" said Rip, "a feller don't jist like
90 have gal down on him."
But Shirley was away alrea ly.
"Game!" said Rip to himself "Them Car
stones is game to the backbone. But 1 didn't
think tother one would do it, The little
devill If it hadn't been for his money she
wouldn't have wiped her feet on him. No,
by goll! She wouldn't have married him no
more than she would marry me? S'pose she
had gone off with me? She'd have Hoped
with a handsome man."
Rip gave jaunty twist to his old slouch
nat, and Strengthened himself up.
"There amt many worse men than me,
reckon, but I flatter myself there's worse
lookin ones Now he's t'other way. There
may be worse men in the world than him,
but Pm goll dinged if believe there's many
worse lookin' ones"
"Goll dinged" was the favorite Linwood
swear word
Rips bad news was all too true. Brownie
had gone. Shirley followed by the next
train, her heart in her mouth lest she should
be too late.
She went to the place to which Rip had
directed her.
Brownie was there alone. She started
when she saw Shirley, and made as if to run
away. Then she sat still and put on defiant
pout
"Are you marriedp asked Shirley
"No."
"Thank heaven!" exclaimed Shirley.
"But Pm going to be in half an hour
Don't say word; it won't do any good"
"You goose, you'll The mans got wife al
ready"
II don't believe it."
"Heres letter from her. She tells him
the children have the whooping cough. She
wants some money. It's regular matrimo-
nial affection, you see; no doubt about it,
Or, if you doubt it further, I have seen
man who knows the whole family"
Brownie snatched the letter.
"Let me see!" she exclaimed.
She looked at it and groaned aloud.
"She begins it My dear Bill, and she spells
dear deer, and she writes 'Bilp with
little 'b'-'My deer BILL"
NY Nt6l Ulll CulllS III dL tLdO ulOIltHU
Brownie glared at him.
"You've got wife already"
ats no such thingw
"But it is. Look here at this letter from
her You really must excuse me, Mr.. Wabb-
nobbs, but I couldn't think of marrying q
man whose wife has no more respect for him
than to call him Bill with little b."
Then Shirley spoke. She said only few
words, but they were her kind Of words. He
wilted under them as if he had been scorched.
He even sought to excuse himself
"She was very willing to go with me-" he
mnttered sulkily. at was her fault as much
as mine. Your sister,
Brownie whirled ON him in fury.
"Oh, the shame of him!" she exclaimed.
NHear the man! To blame it on womanl
You're mean all through"
And again she exclaimed, rather unreason-
ably, it must be confessed:
"To blame it on a womanl" aa
Then under the double fire, like Satan in
the old story, "he went his way and was seen
no more"
Brownie kept brave enough front till
Sdeer bill" was out of sight and hearing. Then
she gave way to wild storm of tears, rage
and wounded vanity. For an hour she was
very desperately angry and Inundated young
lady, till at last Shirley said:
HThere now, I'm Disguised with you'll"
eth be all over town. Oh, Lordl" groaned
Brownie. "What will the Frobisher girls
-say?"
"l've plan, said her sister. aOnly hold
your tongue and they'll never know It. No
body will know It,"
HBut howp
4You wanted to go to New Orleans. I'll
take you there. 1t is not convenient, and it's
expensive, but we'll 60. We will start at
once, tonight. Nobody will know then but
that was what we came down here for, un-
less, indeed, you tell it."
n tell It'll"